Packaging container for transporting batteries

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a package container for shipping and transporting small batteries such as lithium ion rechargeable batteries from manufacturers, and an object thereof is to provide a package container which passes on examination of Container Grade II applicable to lithium batteries including a large amount of metal lithium, diagnosed as dangerous goods of Class 9 in UN Recommendation, and satisfies the requirements of ICAO/IATA Code A45, even if the batteries are the lithium ion rechargeable batteries and others which are small, and not regulated clearly by Codes.  
     By employing a material having a bursting strength of 13.0 kgf/cm 2  or more according to a bursting strength test method regulated in JIS for forming an exterior container of which gross weight is 25 kg or lower including a plurality of small batteries, the small batteries are transported safely.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a package container for shippingand transporting small batteries such as lithium primary batteries andlithium ion rechargeable batteries from manufacturers.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] As a progress have been made in reduction of size and weight, orfunctionality of portable electronic devices such as a portabletelephone, a notebook computer, and portable audio-visual equipment, asmaller size and a higher power have been required for batteries whichserve as their power sources, and lithium primary batteries and lithiumion rechargeable batteries have come into increasing use as batteriescapable of answering the requirement. Moreover, the power source ofcameras is progressively altered from alkaline batteries, which havebeen used for the power source, to the lithium primary batteries withprogress of electronic control of the cameras.

[0003] These lithium primary batteries and lithium ion rechargeablebatteries have a higher energy density and a higher output voltage thanwidely used conventional nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries and thealkaline batteries, allowing number of batteries used to be decreased,and thus they are suitable for the power source of the portableelectronic devices and cameras as described above. However, sinceorganic electrolyte is utilized in these lithium-based batteries, if thebatteries catch fire they are burned violently. Such batteries havinghigh energy density and including flammable organic electrolyte areregulated depending on transport means when they are shipped from themanufacturers of the batteries.

[0004] For example, there are regulatory actions in international airtransport according to TI (Technical Instruction) of ICAO (InternationalCivil Aviation Organization) and DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulation) ofIATA (International Air Transport Association), and the regulatoryactions in domestic air transport according to Aviation Law. Also, inship transport, there are regulatory actions in international shiptransport according to IMDGC (International Maritime Dangerous GoodsCode) of IMO (International Maritime Organization) and SOLAS (Safety ofLife at Sea) agreement, and the regulatory actions in domestic shiptransport according to Law for Safety of Vessels and Dangerous GoodsRegulation.

[0005] Committee of Experts of Dangerous Goods established in Economicand Social Council of United Nations designates lithium batteries,gunpowder, gasoline, and radioactive materials as the dangerous goods,and set strict terms for the international transport of them. UnitedNations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous GoodsRecommendation (UN recommendation) designates the comparatively largelithium batteries, in which metal lithium is 5 g or more in a cell or 25g or more in a battery pack, as the dangerous goods of Class 9, andrequired a package container of the Dangerous Goods Container Grade IIfor transport of the batteries. In addition, the dangerous goodsinvolving the Container Grade II is obliged to be examined for packing,and prohibited from being transported unless it passes on theexamination.

[0006] On the other hand, according to the Special Clause SP188 of UNRecommendation issued in 1998, lithium primary batteries using metallithium, in case metal lithium or lithium alloy is 1 g or lower in acell or 2 g or lower in a battery pack, they are excluded from thedesignation of the dangerous goods because lithium content is low andpotential danger is minor.

[0007] In UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous goods inDecember of 1998, lithium ion rechargeable batteries also became acontrol subject. However, the lithium ion rechargeable batteries don'tinclude metal lithium and are regarded to be less dangerous than thelithium primary battery, so the batteries in which the lithium contentin terms of metal lithium is 1.5 g or lower in a cell or 8 g or lower ina battery pack are excluded from the designation of the dangerous goods.

[0008] Today, for the lithium primary batteries and the lithium ionrechargeable batteries excluded from the designation of the dangerousgoods in the UN Recommendation, there is no agreement on the transportconditions such as the designation of the internationally unifiedpackage container, and the battery manufacturers and transport agentsappropriately pack the batteries in their original style and transportthem.

[0009] However, even if excluded from the scope of the UNRecommendation, in cases where the lithium primary batteries and thelithium ion rechargeable batteries are transported by air, “PackageRegulated on Actions for Preventing Short Circuit of Batteries and Packinto Robust Exterior Containers” in ICAO/IATA Code A45 must beconformed.

[0010] This “Package Regulated on Actions for Preventing Short Circuitof Batteries and Pack into Robust Exterior Containers” is much abstractexpression, and thus decision is left to the battery manufacturers andthe transport agents. However, hereafter, manufacturers and transportagents, who have short experience in production and shipment, willprobably entry in the production and transport of the lithium primarybatteries and the lithium ion rechargeable batteries. Consequently, acertain framework concerning performance of the package container fortransport is desired to be made. Regarding the transport of batteriesusing flammable organic electrolyte such as the lithium primarybatteries and the lithium ion rechargeable batteries, safe transportmust be secured still more for a solid development of the industrialworld including battery manufacturers, makers of equipment usingbatteries, and service companies.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a packagecontainer for transporting the lithium primary batteries and the lithiumion rechargeable batteries which are small and excluded from the scope,and not regulated clearly by Codes as described above, the containerwhich passes on the examination of the Container Grade II applicable tothe dangerous goods of Class 9 in the UN Recommendation described above,and satisfies the requirements of ICAO/IATA Code A45.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0012] To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a package container fortransporting small batteries having a lithium content equal to or lessthan a regulated value diagnosed as dangerous goods, characterized inthat a bursting strength of material forming an exterior container,having a gross weight of 25 kg or lower when it packs a plurality ofsmall batteries, is 13.0 kgf/cm² or more in a test method regulated inJIS. If the gross weight is 25 kg or lower when the plurality of smallbatteries are contained and packed in the exterior container, manualhandling is possible, and if the exterior container is made of cardboardor fiberboard having the bursting strength of the above value or more,the small batteries are transported safely.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provideda package container for transporting small batteries having a lithiumcontent equal to or less than a regulated value diagnosed as dangerousgoods, characterized in that the exterior container, having a grossweight of 25 kg or lower when it packs the plurality of small batteries,is formed to be a hexahedron of which each corner of each face lies atright angle, the small batteries never eject from the package containereven when the exterior container drops on the corner of its top panelfrom a height of 1.2 m, and the exterior container has such a strengththat a deformation, that affects on the safety of the transport, neveroccurs even if the containers are stacked up to a height of 3 m. Bypacking the plurality of small batteries using the exterior containerpassing on the drop test and the stacking test, the safe transport ofthe small batteries is secured.

[0014] In each of the above constructions, the material forming theexterior container is preferably a double or a triple wall corrugatedcardboard with a combination of A flute and B flute, or a combination ofC flute and B flute, these flutes having pulp liners and a thickness of7 mm or more.

[0015] When a surface liner of the double wall corrugated cardboard,having a basis weight of 210 g/m² and more and a bursting strength of 6kgf/cm² and more, regulated in JIS, is utilized, a desired strength isobtained. The exterior container is reinforced and the small batteriesare protected more effectively by placing at least one layer of doublewall or double faced corrugated cardboard inside the exterior container.

[0016] Further, although the package container of the invention can beapplied to a nickel hydride battery and an alkaline battery, theinvention mainly intends to transport the lithium primary batteries andthe lithium ion rechargeable batteries, and devices incorporating thelithium primary batteries and the lithium ion rechargeable batteries orequipment packed together with the batteries, satisfying therequirements of the controls.

[0017] When transporting a cell, by partitioning every cell with aninsulating material, a short circuit due to vibration and shock duringthe transport is prevented. When transporting a battery module or abattery pack, by forming it in individual package packed by each of theplural blocks, short circuit is prevented and the batteries areprotected more securely.

[0018] The package container of the invention is intended to safelytransport a lithium primary battery in which the metal lithium orlithium alloy content is 1 g or lower in a cell and 2 g or lower in abattery pack, or a lithium ion rechargeable battery in which theconverted metal lithium content is 1.5 g or lower in a cell and 8 g orlower in a battery pack, the batteries being excluded from thedesignation of the dangerous goods according to the UN Recommendation,and the construction of this invention is indicated as a due standard ofthe package container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a construction of a batterypack according to an embodiment;

[0020]FIGS. 2A to 2D are perspective views showing an assemblingprocedure of an individual package pack;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an exterior containeraccording to Example 1;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a construction of the packagecontainer according to Example 1;

[0023]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a packing condition of thepackage container according to Example 1;

[0024]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a construction of a packagecontainer according to Example 2;

[0025]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a construction of a packagecontainer according to Example 3; and

[0026]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a construction of a packagecontainer according to Example 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings so that theinvention will be clearly understood. The following embodiments aregiven as only an example implementing the invention, and do not limitthe technical scope of the invention.

[0028] These embodiments show a package container for packing andtransporting small batteries, particularly the lithium primary batteriesand the lithium rechargeable batteries excluded from the designation ofthe dangerous goods in the Special Clause SP 188 of the UNRecommendation.

[0029] A small battery 1 to be packed with a package container of theembodiment is a lithium ion rechargeable battery of IEC Code: ICR18650.As shown in FIG. 1, 15 pieces of the batteries 1 are placed in parallelin a set of 5 pieces to be bundles, the bundles are placed in series ina set of 3 bundles, an SU (Safety Unit) substrate 2 is coupled, and thusthe batteries 1 are constructed as a battery pack 20. The battery pack20 is packaged individually according to a procedure shown in FIGS. 2Ato 2D. First, the battery pack 20 is inserted into a polyethyleneenvelope 3 having a thickness of 0.03 mm as shown in FIG. 2A, thenwrapped with an individual package pad 4 made of a B flute double facedcorrugated cardboard. As shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C, the top panel ofthe SU substrate 2 is not covered so as not to compress the SU substrate2, the individual package pad 4 is folded back to its inside, and thefolded area is fixed with a cellophane tape 5 as shown in FIG. 2D,thereby forming an individual package pack 21. The individual packagepacks 21 are stacked up on five layers, and formed in an individualpackage block 22 bundled integrally with a vinyl tape 6 as shown in FIG.4.

[0030] Hereinafter, Examples 1 to 4 for packing the individual packageblocks 22 will be shown, and verified results on suitability obtainedfrom a comparison between the examples having different packingconditions and packing weights from one another, and two comparativeexamples will be described.

EXAMPLE 1

[0031] In Example 1, two individual package blocks 22 are contained tobe packed in an exterior container 10 as shown in FIG. 4. The exteriorcontainer 10 is formed in 230 mm in length L, 230 mm in width W, and 198mm in height H of its dimension using the double wall corrugatedcardboard with a combination of the A flute and the B flute as shown inFIG. 3. The used double wall corrugated cardboard has uniform quality,no defects such as bonding defects between a corrugating medium and theliner, stain, and chips, and the thickness of 8 mm. The surface liner isa pulp liner, belongs to A Class regulated in JIS P3902, and has a basisweight of 218 g/m² and a bursting strength of 6.6 kgf/cm². A lap bondingusing a steel flat wire 1.7 mm wide with anti-corrosive treatment isutilized in bonding of the cardboard. Respective surfaces of the sliceand folding portions of longitudinal faces 104, lateral faces 105,inside flaps 102, and outside flaps 101 forming the exterior container10 are perpendicular to each other, and when they are folded fromfolding edges to be formed in a box, there should be no breakage intheir surfaces and no defect in the cut edges.

[0032] In the pack of the individual package blocks 22 with the exteriorcontainer 10, accessories are arranged as shown in FIG. 4 so that theexterior container 10 protects the individual package block 22 moresecurely.

[0033] First, a bottom of the exterior container 10 is closed. Bondingarea of the bottom is a lap bonding area using a flat wire, width of ajoint flap is 38 mm, space between flat wire stops is 50 mm, anddistance from the folding line of the inside flap 102 to the nearestflat wire is 22 mm. Gummed fabric tape 23 having a width of 55 mm isadhered to the lap bonding area together with edges of the outside flaps101, parallel to the lateral faces 105.

[0034] A lower pad 7 made of the A flute double faced corrugatedcardboard with a thickness of about 5 mm is put into an inside bottom ofthe exterior container 10 having a closed bottom. Next, two individualpackage blocks 22 are placed in parallel via a divider 8 made of the Aflute cardboard, their circumference is enclosed by a sleeve 9 made ofthe double wall corrugated cardboard with the A flute and the B flute,and then they are put into the exterior container 10. Next, three sheetsof filling plates 11 for filling space between the exterior container 10and the individual packs 22 are stacked on each of the individual packs21, an upper pad 12 made of the A flute cardboard is placed thereon, theinside flaps 102 and the outside flaps 101 of the exterior container 10are closed, and they are fixed by adhering the gummed fabric tape 23having a width of 55 mm. According to the above packing procedure, abattery pack article 25 is completed as shown in FIG. 5. The grossweight of the pack in Example 1 is 6.8 kg in which the weight of thebattery pack 20 is 5.8 kg.

EXAMPLE 2

[0035] In Example 2, similarly as Example 1, two individual packageblocks 22 are contained to be packed in an exterior container 13. Asshown in FIG. 6, the divider 8 is placed between the two individualpackage blocks 22, the blocks are put in the exterior container 13having the closed bottom, five sheets of filling plates 11 are placed oneach of the individual package blocks 22, and the top panel of theexterior container 13 is closed. A different point from Example 1 isthat the lower pad 7, the upper pad 12, and the sleeve 9 are notprovided.

[0036] Although the material used and the forming method of the exteriorcontainer 13 is equal to those of the exterior container 10 in Example1, its dimension is formed slightly smaller than the exterior container10 because number of accessories such as the lower pad 7 is reduced. Thegross weight of the pack in Example 2 is 6.5 kg in which the weight ofthe battery pack 20 is 5.8 kg.

EXAMPLE 3

[0037] In Example 3, as shown in FIG. 7, four individual package blocks22 are contained to be packed in an exterior container 14 formed withthe same materials and forming method as those of the exterior container10 in Example 1. The bottom of the exterior container 14 is closed, anda lower pad 16, made of the A flute double faced corrugated cardboard,is put into the inside bottom of the exterior container 14. The fourindividual package blocks 22 are placed on the lower pad 16 via thedivider 8 made of the A flute double faced corrugated cardboard, theircircumference are enclosed by a sleeve 18 made of the double wallcorrugated cardboard using the A flute and the B flute, three sheets offilling plates 11 are placed on each of the individual package blocks22, an upper pad 17 made of the A flute double faced corrugatedcardboard is placed thereon, and then the top panel of the exteriorcontainer 14 is closed. The gross weight of the pack in Example 3 is13.1 kg in which the weight of the battery pack 20 is 11.6 kg.

EXAMPLE 4

[0038] In Example 4, as shown in FIG. 8, eight individual package blocks22 are contained to be packed in an exterior container 15 formed withthe same materials and forming method as those of the exterior container10 in Example 1. The bottom of the exterior container 15 is closed, andthe lower pad 16, made of the A flute double faced corrugated cardboard,is put into the inside bottom of the exterior container 15. The fourindividual package blocks 22 are placed on the lower pad 16 via thedivider 8 made of the A flute double faced corrugated cardboard, andanother individual package blocks 22 are placed in fours thereon. Thecircumference of the eight individual package blocks 22 are enclosed bya sleeve 27 made of the double wall corrugated cardboard using the Aflute and the B flute, four sheets of filling plates 11 are placed oneach of the individual package blocks 22, the upper pad 17 made of the Aflute double faced corrugated cardboard is placed thereon, and then thetop panel of the exterior container 15 is closed. The gross weight ofthe pack in Example 4 is 25.0 kg in which the weight of the battery pack20 is 23.2 kg.

[0039] Hereinafter, the constructions of comparative examples 1 and 2are shown as the comparative objects for examining the suitability ofthe above Examples 1 to 4.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

[0040] An exterior container is of the same dimension as that of theexterior container 10 shown in Example 1, and the material thereof ismade of the double faced corrugated cardboard using the A flute. Asurface liner of this double faced corrugated cardboard belongs to the Aclass regulated in JIS P3902, and has a basis weight of 200 g/m² and abursting strength of 5.8 kgf/cm², and a bursting strength of the doublefaced corrugated cardboard is 11.0 kgf/cm² in a measuring methodregulated in JIS.

[0041] The method for forming the exterior container and the method forpacking the two individual package blocks 22, and number of theaccessories used are also same. The gross weight of the pack in thiscomparative example 1 is 6.3 kg in which the gross weight of the batterypack 20 is 5.8 kg.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

[0042] Only the filling plates are remained as the accessories from theconstruction according to the comparative example 1, and two individualpackage blocks 22 are contained to be packed directly in the exteriorcontainer. The gross weight of the pack in this comparative example 2 is6.0 kg in which the gross weight of the battery pack 20 is 5.8 kg.

[0043] For the aforementioned Examples 1 to 4 and comparative examples 1and 2, tests are conducted under same conditions. The test items are apseudo-stacking test up to 3 meters or more, and a drop test. Thefollowing test methods are in use in public laboratories.

[0044] For the test conditions of the stacking test, objects had beenleft for 24 hr in an atmosphere of temperature of 20° C. and relativehumidity of 65%, and then test was conducted under the conditionaccording to a criterion of calculation represented by the followingequation:

W=(3−h)/h×G

[0045] where W is a test load, h is a height of the object, and G is agross weight of the object.

[0046] The criterions of the stacking test are (1) that contents arenever ejected, and (2) that there are no alteration that may affect onthe safety of the transport and no transformation that may impair thesafety of the stack.

[0047] For the test conditions of the drop test, the objects had beenleft in an atmosphere of temperature of 20° C. and relative humidity of65%, and then test was conducted under following conditions.

[0048] The drop is repeated five times in such a falling posture thatthe center of gravity lies at an impact point in a perpendicular line toa falling face, except for face-to-face drop. The first drop is adiagonal drop falling from the corner of the top panel to the fallingface, the second drop is the face-to-face drop from the bottom panel,the third drop is the face-to-face drop from the top panel, the fourthdrop is the face-to-face drop from a side panel, and the fifth drop isthe face-to-face drop from an end. A falling height (H) is given by thefollowing equation:

H=1.2 m×(mass defined by its specification)/(actual mass)

[0049] The criterions of the drop test are (1) that contents are neverejected, and (2) that the exterior container has no damage that affectson the safety of the transport, and the contents never leaks from aninterior container.

[0050] The aforementioned stacking and drop tests are conducted for eachof Examples 1 to 4 and the comparative examples 1 and 2, and results ofvisual evaluation are shown in Table 2. Rough constructions of Examples1 to 4 and the comparative examples 1 and 2 are shown in Table 1 to beprovided for reference of comparison. TABLE 1 Gross Total WeightExterior weight of Batteries Container Accessories Example 1  6.8 kg 5.8 kg Double Wall With Corrugated Accessories Cardboard Example 2  6.5kg  5.8 kg Double Wall Without Corrugated Accessories Cardboard Example3 13.1 kg 11.6 kg Double Wall With Corrugated Accessories CardboardExample 4 25.0 kg 23.2 kg Doublw Wall With Corrugated AccessoriesCardboard Comparative  6.3 kg  5.8 kg Double Faced With Example 1Corrugated Accessories Cardboard Comparative  6.0 kg  5.8 kg DoubleFaced Without Example 2 Corrugated Accessories Cardboard

[0051] TABLE 2 Compara- Compara- tive tive Cri- Example Example ExampleExample Example Example terion 1 2 3 4 1 2 Stacking (1) Pass Pass PassPass Pass Pass Test (2) Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Fail Drop (1) Pass PassPass Pass Pass Fail Test (2) Pass Pass Pass Pass Fail Fail Overall PassPass Pass Pass Fail Fail Evaluation

[0052] As can be seen in Table 2, any of the constructions shown inExamples 1, 2, 3, and 4 results in passing on each evaluation item ofthe stacking test and the drop test. On the other hand, the comparativeexamples 1 and 2 both fail in overall evaluation, however, in theconstruction of the comparative example 1, it can be seen that theaccessories such as the sleeve and upper and lower pads using the doublewall corrugated cardboard reinforce the exterior container using thedouble faced corrugated cardboard.

[0053] As can be seen in Table 1, difference between Examples and thecomparative examples is considered that difference of the burstingstrength due to the exterior containers 10, 13, 14, and 15 using thedouble wall corrugated cardboard is significant, and even if the content(individual package blocks 22) has a heavy weight or a large volume,accessories such as sleeves 18, 27 and lower pads 7, 16 reinforce theexterior containers 14, 15.

[0054] Although there has been shown in Examples described hereinbeforethat the battery pack 20 constituted by integrally coupling a pluralityof small batteries 1 is assumed as an object to be packed, a pluralityof cells can also be packed. In this case, the cells are contained oneby one within a lattice frame formed with insulating paper includingkraft paper in order to prevent short circuit and protect the cells.

[0055] Moreover, although the exterior containers 10, 13, 14, and 15 areformed using the double wall corrugated cardboard with a combination ofthe A flute and the B flute, a combination of the C flute and the Bflute, which is typically used in Europe and the United States ofAmerica, is also effective. In case the weight is heavy, or the volumeis large, or higher strength is desired, the triple wall corrugatedcardboard is effectively used. Also, the exterior container can be madeof a fiberboard. On the contrary, when the weight is light, or thevolume is small, a desired strength is obtained even from a double facedcorrugated cardboard having a bursting strength of 13.0 kgf/cm² or more.These options are desired to be used properly depending on kinds ofbatteries or kinds of the devices or equipment using the batteries,however, higher strength necessarily increases price of the packagecontainer.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0056] According to the package container of the present invention, aform of the package for transporting small batteries such as lithiumbatteries excluded from the designation of the dangerous goods, thebatteries for which a standard of the package for transport is notfixed, is constructed as those according to the package form of thebatteries diagnosed as the dangerous goods, for which the standard ofthe package has been established, therefore this package container isuseful for establishing the safe transport of the small batteries.

1. A package container for transporting small batteries having a lithiumcontent equal to or less than a regulated value diagnosed as dangerousgoods, comprising: an exterior container for packing a plurality ofsmall batteries, the container of which a gross weight being 25 kg orlower, wherein a material forming the exterior container has a strengthof 13.0 kgf/cm² or higher in a bursting strength test method regulatedin JIS.
 2. A package container for transporting small batteries having alithium content equal to or less than a regulated value diagnosed asdangerous goods, comprising: an exterior container for packing aplurality of small batteries, the container of which a gross weightbeing 25 kg or lower, wherein the exterior container is formed in ahexahedron, with each corner in each face lying at right angle, and theexterior container has a strength such that the small batteries arenever ejected even when the exterior container drops on the corner ofits top panel diagonally from a height of 1.2 m, and a transformationthat affects on safety of transport is never occurred even when theexterior containers are stacked up to a height of 3 m.
 3. The packagecontainer according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a material forforming the exterior container is a double wall corrugated cardboard ora triple wall corrugated cardboard, each cardboard having a thickness of7 mm or more, and comprising a pulp liner.
 4. The package containeraccording to claim 3, wherein a surface liner of the double wallcorrugated cardboard has a basis weight of 210 g/m² or more inaccordance with JIS regulation, and a bursting strength of 6 kgf/cm² ormore in accordance with JIS regulation.
 5. The package containeraccording to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a material for formingthe exterior container is a double wall corrugated cardboard or a triplewall corrugated cardboard with an optional combination of A flute, Bflute, and C flute.
 6. The package container according to claim 5,wherein a surface liner of the double wall corrugated cardboard has abasis weight of 210 g/m² or more in accordance with JIS regulation, anda bursting strength of 6 kgf/cm² or more in accordance with JISregulation.
 7. The package container according to any one of claims 1and 2, wherein at least one layer of a double wall corrugated cardboardor a double faced corrugated cardboard is placed inside of the exteriorcontainer.
 8. The package container according to any one of claims 1 and2, wherein the small batteries are lithium primary batteries or lithiumion rechargeable batteries.
 9. The package container according to anyone of claims 1 and 2, wherein the small batteries are devicesincorporating lithium primary batteries or lithium ion rechargeablebatteries, or equipment packed together with the lithium primarybatteries or the lithium ion rechargeable batteries.
 10. The packagecontainer according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the smallbatteries are partitioned by each cell with an insulating material. 11.The package container according to any one of claims 1 and 2, whereinthe small batteries are formed in a plurality of individual packagepacks.
 12. The package container according to any one of claims 1 and 2,wherein the small batteries are lithium primary batteries in which metallithium or lithium alloy is 1 g or lower in a cell or 2 g or lower in abattery pack, or lithium ion rechargeable batteries in which a convertedmetal lithium content is 1.5 g or lower in a cell or 8 g or lower in abattery pack.